Electric paint softener



Oct. 4, 1932. F. D. POTENSA ELECTRIC PAINT SOFTENBR File latch 14, 1930 Ir eTliZffr:

m MI .w m W 1 1 g wwwwwwwwwwwwmlLll w mu um Patented Oct. 4, 1932 "UNITED? STATES PATENT OFFICE IBANKLIN D. I'O'I'ENSA, 01 Pm RIDGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FLOYD MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, 01! CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. GORIOBA'IION OF ILLINOIS ELECTRIC PAINT SOFTEm Application illed Iarch 14, 1980. Serial No. 485,702.

My invention pertains to electrical heating up liances and concerns more particularly devlces of that character designed and adapted for satisfactory and eificient employment in the softening of paint on a painted surface so that it may be easily andreadily scraped off or otherwise removed.

Heretofore, it has been customary to-use a blow-torch for this heating purpose, but a heating means of such type does not soften the paint to the best advantage for dislodgment, and the employment of an open flame, such as is used in the blow-torch, presents a substantial fire danger. Y

One aim ofathe present invention is to provide a heater which will be-unusually effective in softening and breaking the bond or union between the inner surface of the body of paint and the wood or other material which it covers, whereby the sheet of heated paint maybe scraped ofi with celerity and facility.

A blow torch or any other equivalent,

plicity, to designate the same structural elemeans tends to fire certain ingredients in the paint or other surface coating to be removed, with the resultant firing or scorching of the wood and a blistering on the paint surface, leaving a ,more or less hardened substance, the removal of which is neither so easy nor so effective as when the new applianceis employed, which produces its greatest effect at just the point where the required separation is to take place, namely, between the inner surface of the paint stratum and the wood.

To accomplish such a desirable result, it 1s necessary to employ a heating means,-the effects from which will penetrateothrough the paint layer and produce their maximum heat- ',ing action at the inner surface thereof.

-To the attainment of this advantageous and beneficial end,"the improved and novel heater, incorporating the present invention,

- is so designed and constructed that it will project and penetrate infra red rays into i the coat of hardened paint to bring about the softening and separation specified, such standing the relatively high degree of,.heat

to. which; it'is subjecte A further aim or object of the invention is to supply a heater which will do the intended work and the heating means of which may be brought into comparatively close relation to the painted surface without fire or electrical hazard and without danger of injuring the heater itself and without likelihood of causing the appliance, to become gummed u or soiled or mechanically or electrically amaged by the heated'plastic paint.

An additional purpose of the invention is to supply a heater which will function in the specified manner and in which the heating and against mechanical injury.

To the accomplishment of these and other desirable objects, I have invented the resent preferred embodiment of the invention, i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail below, like reference nuelement will be adequately protected and shielded againstoxidation or deterioration merals being employed, for the sake of simments in all of the views of the drawing.

In this drawing- Figure 1 is a substantially central cross section through the appliance, the handle ure 1. 1

Referring to this drawing, it will be observed that the ap liance includes a porce- Iain, or other suita le, rectangular block 10 I having connected grooves or channels 11, 11 in its outer face which accommodate a zigzag coiled, electric heating element 12 em bedded in an aluminum oxide fire clay, car-' borundum, or "other appropriate cement 13,

the outer portion of which covers the entire 7 corresponding face of the member 10.

After the electric conductor and its encasing cement have been applied to the porcelain block, the latter is baked atan appro- .priate heat to mature the cement;

Then the-cement face of the block .is coated at 14: with a mixture of 1 part silica, 1 part powdered flint, 3 parts cobaltic oxide, 2 parts what-higher hollow ribs17, 17 overlapping chromic oxide, and 50 parts of iron oxide creamed in a suitable quantity of water, whereupon the block is again baked to fix or set the mineral coating and to free it from moisture.

Such coating seals or closes the pores or interstices of the cement and thus aids in preserving the cement and its embedded electric heating element and in mechanically protecting them, and it also provides the appliance with a black mineral oxide surface layer which becomes heated and which emits the infra red rays possessing the property of penetrating the paint stratum and softening and loosening its connection or bond with the underlying wood, thus permitting its ready removal. -l

Such block 10 and its heating element are held in a rectangular metal frame 15 having narrow-end or transverse flanges 16,16 overlying the active face of the block and somethe longitudinal margins of the block.

In use the block is slid lengthwise on the painted surface with the ribs 17, 17 bearing directly thereon, so that the heated face of the block is maintained the desired and proper small distance away from the paint and out of contact therewith, and, therefore, there is no tendency to burn the paint or to smear the face of the block with softened paint.

By means of bolts 18, 18,. flanges on the metal frame 15 are secured to a metal back 19 with an interposed plate 21 of asbestos 01;, other heat-insulating composition material.

An apertured metal shield 22, covering the back of the appliance and extending part way down its sides, is fastened in place by bolts 23, 23 extended through holes therein and through registering apertures in bosses 24, 24 upstanding from the back plate 19.

Screws 25, 25 fasten the metal, lower end portion 26 of a longitudinally-apertured, wooden handle 27 to the plate 22 with an intermediate heat and electrical insulating plate 28 between them,'the terminals 29, 29 of the heating elem nt 12 being connected in any satisfactory manner to insulated electric wires 31, 31 extended out through the handle where they are attached or connected to any convenient source of electrical energyr From the foregoing it will be clear that the porcelain block carrying the embedded by which it may be manipulated.

heating element and supplied with the mineral oxide coating is mounted in effective and heat insulated manner onthe handle which is grasped by the operator in using the appliance, that such block is surrounded by a substantial layer of air except at the relatively small points of attachment to the handle, that the heated block is shielded 'by the perforated metal cover-plate and that the whole device is constructed with a aim to conservation of the heat develops to preservation of the appliance and the operator from injury during the performanceof the intended function of the device.

Although hereinabove I have specified a desirable composition for the coating for the cement for the closing of its pores and for'the production of a black surface well capable of withstanding the heat to which it is subjected, it is to be understood that this composition may be varied within wide limits and that its color need not necessaril be black, but it is, however, preferably blac t to produce the best results. As the appliance is caused to travel along the heated surface, the paint is softened by reason of the direct transference of heat thereto, and the bond or attachment of the the mineral oxide coating which is heated-to a'dull red.

The layer of paint having thus been softened, it can readily be scraped off by any suitable implement.

The invention is not limited and restricted to the precise and exact details of structure herein presented and it is susce tible to a variety of embodiments in simp e and convenient form, varying more or less radically from the preferred embodiment of the invention herein set forth, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In anclectric paint-softener, the combination of an element adapted to be heated by the passage of an electric current therethrough, porous means in which said element.

is completely embedded, means filling the pores of that surface of said embedding means designed to be positioned next to the layer of paint to be treated, and a handle for the softener by means of which it may be manipulated.

- 2. In an electric paint-softener, the combination of an element adapted to be heated by "the passage of an electric current therethrough, insulating means in which said-element is embedded, a coating on that face of said embedding means next to the paint layer undergoing heat treatment, said coating when heated by said element transmitting infra red .rays to penetrate and soften the paint layer, and a handle for said softener 3. In an electric, paint-softener, the combination of an element adapted to be heated by the passage of an electric current therethrough, insulating means in WhlCh said element is embedded, a mineral oxide coating on that face of said embedding means next to the paint layer undergoing heat treatment, said coating-when heated by said ele ment transmitting infra red rays to pene-. and trate and soften the paint layer, and a handle 139 by which said softener may be manipulated.

4. In an electric paint-softener, the combination of an element adapted to be heated by the passage of an electric current therethrough, insulating means in which said element is embedded, a black mineral oxide coating on that face of said embedding means next to the paint layer undergoing heat treatment, said coating when heated by said; element transmitting infra red rays to penetrate and soften the paint layer, and a handle for said softener by which it may be manipulated. v

.5. In an electric paint-softener, the com bination of a grooved porcelain block, an element adapted to be heated by an electric current occupying the groove of said block, a cement in said groove in which said heating element is embedded, a coating for that surface of the cement next to the paint layer undergoing heat treatment composed of silica, powdered flint and a plurality of mineral oxides, said coating when heated by said element transmitting infra red rays to penetrate and soften the paint layer, and a handle for said softener by which it may be manipulated.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. FRANKLIN D. POTENSA. 

